I havent ridden since Monday thanks to the utterly foul weather. Im not totally fair weather and will ride in rain and snow if I feel like it or need to due to a lesson, but Im not riding in gale force winds, which is all weve had the last few days. Instead Charlie has been having lots of scritching sessions in his stable. It occurred to me last night though that even this is progress. When I first got him he wasnt keen on me doing things with him in the stable, hed move away from me and get a bit narky about it. I definitely didnt attempt to muck out with him in there. Now I can muck out around him and hell move to get out of the way without being asked, hell stand nicely to have his feet picked out and hes much more relaxed about me just faffing in general. Hes a very clean pony so I rarely have much to do, mucking out or grooming wise, and his tolerance for staying in is limited as hed much rather be out on the grass than eating hay, even at this time of year. I groom him, using a rubber curry to get to all his itchy bits (hes itchier on the off side than near but really likes his hamstrings to be pummelled on both sides), and he wiggles around showing me all the best bits to do. I was especially pleased with him last night when I was turning him out. The wind was awful, enough to almost blow you off your feet. The trees were swaying and creaking, the christmas lights were blowing around wildly and I had a job hanging on to the gate. He saw something behind him which worried him and he had a little jump as we got to the field but settled when I spoke to him and went through the gate fairly calmly. Turned to face me when asked so I could secure the gate behind us, then waited for his carrot and let me take his headcollar off. He stood nicely until Id left the field and closed the gate, and then he exploded in a bucking fit that was worthy of any rodeo. I swear his back legs went about 10 in the air! No wonder I fall off when he does that with me on board - eek! But, he waited until I was out of harms way, which is quite a big deal considering hes young and sharp and doesnt always manage to contain himself.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:25:19 +0000
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